Excel V+® Laser

The Cutera Excel V+ is an advanced dual-wavelength vascular and pigmentation laser that combines a 532 nm KTP wavelength with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength. This allows it to treat a wide range of concerns including redness, rosacea, facial veins, broken capillaries, leg veins, pigmentation, age spots and some types of scarring.

Excel V+ is commonly used for:

• Rosacea and flushing
• Persistent facial redness
• Broken capillaries and facial veins
• Spider veins and leg veins
• Cherry angiomas and red spots
• Port wine stains and vascular birthmarks
• Sun damage, freckles and age spots
• Brown spots and benign pigmentation
• Acne-related redness and some acne scars
• Surgical, traumatic and red hypertrophic scars
• General skin rejuvenation and fine lines

The 532 nm wavelength is absorbed by superficial blood vessels and pigment close to the skin surface, making it useful for redness, capillaries and brown spots. The 1064 nm wavelength penetrates more deeply, allowing treatment of deeper vessels, larger veins and Laser Genesis skin revitalisation.

Laser Genesis is one of the treatment modes performed using the 1064 nm wavelength on the excel V+ platform. Rather than targeting a specific blood vessel or pigment spot, Laser Genesis gently heats the deeper skin to stimulate collagen, reduce diffuse redness and improve skin texture, pores and fine lines with minimal downtime.

The 532 nm wavelength is best for superficial concerns such as:

• Facial redness and rosacea
• Broken capillaries and telangiectasia
• Cherry angiomas
• Red acne marks
• Freckles, sun spots and age spots
• Superficial vascular birthmarks

The 1064 nm wavelength is better for:

• Deeper facial veins
• Blue or purple veins
• Leg veins and reticular veins
• Venous lakes
• Laser Genesis rejuvenation
• Deeper vascular birthmarks and some scars

Yes. Excel V+ is one of the most effective laser systems for rosacea because it can target both diffuse redness and the visible blood vessels that contribute to flushing and persistent redness. Many patients benefit from a series of treatments combined with ongoing rosacea skin care.

Excel V+ can help certain acne scars, particularly when redness or vascularity is present. Laser Genesis may improve texture and collagen stimulation, while red post-acne marks often respond well to the vascular settings. More significant textural acne scarring may still require fractional resurfacing such as UltraClear or Alma Hybrid in combination.

This depends on the condition being treated. Some small vessels or cherry angiomas may improve after one treatment, while rosacea, redness, pigmentation or scars often require a series of 2–4 sessions. Leg veins and deeper vascular concerns may require additional treatments.

Most Excel V+ treatments are spaced approximately 4–8 weeks apart depending on the concern being treated and how quickly the skin settles between sessions.

Most patients describe Excel V+ as feeling like a brief warm snap or flick against the skin. The device includes built-in sapphire contact cooling, which improves comfort and protects the skin. Laser Genesis is usually very well tolerated and often feels like gentle warmth.

Downtime is usually minimal. There may be mild redness or swelling for several hours to a day. Pigmented spots may darken temporarily before flaking away. Vascular lesions can occasionally look darker or slightly swollen for several days. Bruising is uncommon but can occur when treating larger blood vessels.

Some vessels and red spots improve immediately, while others fade gradually over several weeks. Pigmentation usually darkens then lightens over 1–3 weeks. Laser Genesis results are more gradual, with improvement in redness, skin texture and collagen usually seen over a series of treatments.

Excel V+ can be used on a broad range of skin types, but treatment settings must be carefully adjusted according to skin colour and the condition being treated. Darker skin types require additional caution because there is a greater risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation. A specialist dermatologist assessment is particularly important.

Treatment may not be suitable if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have an active infection or cold sore in the treatment area
• Have very recent sun exposure or fake tan
• Are taking certain photosensitising medications
• Have a tendency to abnormal scarring or poor wound healing
• Have suspicious pigmented lesions that have not been assessed medically

Redness, pigmentation and visible blood vessels can arise from many different causes, including rosacea, melasma, sun damage, inflammatory conditions, vascular malformations or even skin cancer. The correct diagnosis determines which wavelength, settings and combination of treatments are appropriate. A specialist dermatologist-directed assessment helps ensure the correct problem is treated safely and effectively.

Excel V+ is generally more precise than IPL because it uses specific wavelengths targeted at either blood vessels or pigment. IPL can be useful for more diffuse redness and pigmentation, but Excel V+ is often preferred for difficult rosacea, broken capillaries, facial veins and more resistant vascular lesions.

Candela VBeam Perfecta is often considered a gold-standard pulsed dye laser for redness and vascular lesions. Excel V+ offers greater versatility because it combines both 532 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths, allowing treatment of a broader range of superficial and deeper vascular and pigmented concerns in one platform.